Sunday, May 16, 2010

SO NICE TO SEE SUNNY DAYS AGAIN....& THERE ARE MORE ON THE WAY:))

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TODAY'S MYSTERY BIRD (could it be a female Northern Oriole)

I hung a hummingbird feeder up Saturday afternoon & Sunday morning Checker's frantic barking told us the raccoon had struck again leaving the feeder busted up on the ground.  A few repairs, a new batch of sugary juice, & the feeder is back up & this time with a locking clamp.......so we'll see!!

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DOWNY WOODPECKER

Noticed SAM & DONNA are wondering about a flat screen TV for their 5th wheel which reminded me of our change over from a clunky old TV above the dash to a nice 23" Toshiba flat screen that we mounted on the wall near our entrance door.  It was one of the best things we did & are still amazed at the great HD quality picture we get even with just the rig's wind up antennae.  The TV is also able to extend, swivel, & tilt, making it much easier & practical to watch. 

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PAST ?? BLOOMS GOING TO SEED

I did manage to scare up a blog showing pictures of that project.  TV PROJECT ONE.  Also included the blog about why it's best for me to let someone else do these things if I want them done right!!   IF I WANT IT DONE RIGHT!!  Click the small pics to enlarge them.  Also, you will notice in the pics the TV mount was first on the end of the kitchen cupboard.  I wasn't comfortable with that so had a friend of ours re-do it & mount it properly to the cupboard arrangement on the wall behind the TV. 

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THE TV IN IT'S CURRENT POSITION.  IT CAN EXTEND OUT FROM THERE, SWIVEL & TILT

I just slipped out to the rig & took a few more pics of it secured in it's place by a couple of trouser belts.  The belt idea was mine although we did travel the whole winter a couple years ago without the belt idea & the TV was fine despite some of the worst bumps we had ever hit.  The two securing leather belts on there now give me greater peace of mind.

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The full time mobility van driver who replaced me 3 years ago is off on a month of holidays so beginning tomorrow I am slipping into his spot (my old  spot) & hope to have myself a busy month.  I'm glad to be doing............ SOMETHING!!

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THIS IS A PICTURE OF AL SWIMMING IN THE POND THIS MORNING

I managed to grab a couple quick pics of the orange bird I saw at the feeder on Saturday.  After a look though my bird book I am guessing at a female Northern Oriole.  Whaddya think Judy?

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GROANER'S CORNER:((  And remember, if I want your opinion........ I will give it to you!!

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

'PEANUT BUTTER'.....THE EXCITEMENT HIGH FOR THE DAY

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GODERICH HARBOR MAY 2009 (all but one of today's photos are file pics from May 09)

The absolute most exciting thing that happened in my life today was that I snuck into town to buy a jar of peanut butter.  Now, it hardly gets any more exciting than that I'd say!!

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BRUCE & MARGIE aren't having themselves quite as an exciting day because they are currently held up in Owensville near St. Louis somewhere with a hydraulic jack on their Motor Home stuck in the down position.  Reminds me of November of 2008 when we were in Oliver Lee State Park near Alamogordo New Mexico with a similar jack problem.  I have a few photos of that situation on OUR BLOG for that day.

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OLIVER LEE STATE PARK NEAR ALAMOGORDO, NEW MEXICO...2008

RAY from beautiful downtown Gleeson in southeast Arizona is having a tongue twisting Pyrrhuloxia problem that is only solvable by applying an easy repeatable tongue pacifying Kazoot-kazoot solution.  And, the CAVE PEOPLE living in a town called Sandwich, Illinois actually chose RVing over embroidering back in 2008.  Imagine that!!

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AND THEY CALL IT ART!!

Once again JUDY was able to identify my very poor mystery bird photo last night as that of a Green Heron.  Am suspecting we may have had an Oriole at the feeder today so I have the camera beside the computer as I keep a close eye on the daily outside Birdville shenanigans......

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ONE OF THE LOCAL FARM BOYS SPREADING A LITTLE AGRICULTURAL HAPPINESS ON THE FIELDS

GROANER'S CORNER:((  The Laws Of Golfing:

LAW 1: No matter how bad your last shot was, the worst is yet to come. This law does not expire on the 18th hole, since it has the supernatural tendency to extend over the course of a tournament, a summer and, eventually, a lifetime.

LAW 2: Your best round of golf will be followed almost immediately by your worst round ever. The probability of the latter increases with the number of people you tell about the former.

LAW 3: Brand new golf balls are water-magnetic. Though this cannot be proven in the lab, it is a known fact that the more expensive the golf ball, the greater its attraction to water.

LAW 4: Golf balls never bounce off of trees back into play. If one does, the tree is breaking a law of the universe and should be cut down.

LAW 5: No matter what causes a golfer to muff a shot, all his playing partners must solemnly chant "You looked up," or invoke the wrath of the universe.

LAW 6: The higher a golfer's handicap, the more qualified he deems himself as an instructor.

LAW 7: Every par-three hole in the world has a secret desire to humiliate golfers. The shorter the hole, the greater its desire.

LAW 8: Topping a 3-iron is the most painful torture known to man.

LAW 9: Palm trees eat golf balls.

LAW 10: Sand is alive. If it isn't, how do you explain the way it works against you?

LAW 11: Golf carts always run out of juice at the farthest point from the clubhouse.

LAW 12: A golfer hitting into your group will always be bigger than anyone in your group. Likewise, a group you accidentally hit into will consist of a football player, a professional wrestler, a convicted murderer and an IRS agent -- or some similar combination.

LAW 13: All 3-woods are demon-possessed.

LAW 14: Golf balls from the same "sleeve" tend to follow one another, particularly out of bounds or into the water (see Law three)

LAW 15: A severe slice is a thing of awesome power and beauty.

LAW 16: "Nice lag" can usually be translated to "lousy putt." Similarly, "tough break" can usually be translated "way to miss an easy one, sucker."

LAW 17: The person you would most hate to lose to will always be the one who beats you.

LAW 18: The last three holes of a round will automatically adjust your score to what it really should be.

LAW 19: Golf should be given up at least twice per month.

LAW 20: All vows taken on a golf course shall be valid only until the sunset of the same day.

 

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

Friday, May 14, 2010

SHORT BIKE RIDE...TOO COLD:((

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JUDY identified Thursdays blue looking mystery bird as an Indigo Bunting.  I have another one for you today Judy.  Took it this morning from a long way off while on our walk.  It's not a good photo & was the only shot I got off before it was airborne & gone.  I'm guessing some kind of Heron.

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INDIGO BUNTING                           ??

Also spotted a Muskrat in the larger pond this morning so I'm suspecting that is what probably ate the eggs in the Canada Goose nest a few weeks back.  The bird in today's mystery bird photo is standing right on top of that same abandoned goose nest.

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MUSKRAT (click to enlarge)

The rains have moved on & we had a clear sunny day.  Took the bike for a run but didn't go far because of the gusting cold winds.  I do not like cold!!

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LILACS

Maybe I will be able to scare up something interesting to write about Saturday.............DSC_7358

GROANER'S CORNER:((  And remember that by the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere!!                            PAINTED TURTLE

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

ANOTHER LOOOOONG COLD RAINY DAY:((

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THIS LITTLE FARM BOY IS BACK ON HIS SWING FOR ANOTHER SEASON

It's been another loooooong cold & wet wind driven rainy day again.  Not nice!!

Had a couple possible ID's on yesterday's unknown brown bird in our front yard.  A female Junco or a female Cowbird?  While at the computer this morning I saw a male Cowbird land on the nearest feeder.  He was soon joined by the unknown brown bird & moments later they both flew off up into the trees together so I'm guessing that JUDY is spot on with her identification of a female Cowbird.  Kelly spotted a blue looking bird in one of the shrubs this morning & later I was able to get a few pics of it on the ground under the feeders.  The closest bird we could find in our book that 'sort of' resembled this little fellow was an Eastern Bluebird so once again we'll have to wait for our knowledgeable bird people's opinion.

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INDIGO BUNTING

Had to slip into the small town of Clinton this morning which is only 10 minute drive for us to pick up a few groceries.  On the way back it was raining pretty good so I was surprised to come upon a long line of maybe a couple hundred high school kids walking west along the shoulder of the road.  Must have been some kind of organized walk going on.  Maybe a walk for cancer or something.  I had the heater on in the van but couldn't help but notice a lot of these walking kids were in shorts with clear plastic bags pulled over their upper bodies as protection from the cold rain.  Aw yes, those difficult teen age years eh!!  Looking back, I think that era bring back some of my best, & poorest memories.

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EITHER A LOT OF KIDS GOT KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL TODAY OR THEY ARE WALKING FOR A 'CAUSE' OF SOME SORT

These recent long days of bad weather nothingness sure have been mentally difficult to positively navigate through.  I'm still hoping to pull a rabbit out of the hat & get myself motivated & interested in something worthwhile & challenging.  I just may have to take up basket weaving after all....... Oh, the humility of it all.

DSC_7327SQUIRREL SHENANIGANS IN A SMALL CEDAR TREE THIS MORNING >>>>

GROANER'S CORNER:((

George Burns once said,

"The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending........and to have the two as close together as possible"   (Amen to that for sure!!!!!!!!!!)

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

BLOGS, BLOGGERS, & BLOGWOBBLES

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I am short on photos for today so am including pics from Bayfield's Vintage Car Show last summer.

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Seems like there has been a fair bit of talk this past week or so about blogs, bloggers, & blog sites.  Pros & cons, thoughts, ideas, & concerns.  Egos have been mentioned, privacy issues discussed, & maybe some feelings stepped on.  Don't ya just love it when we all get a good old case of blogwobbles going on:))

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Let me put the bottom line first.....it all boils down once again to each person's preference of what they want on their blog, how they want it to look, & what they want it to say.  When I went looking for a simple definition of a blog I ran into a long confusion of explanations but did find one simple enough for me to understand which said.............

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(Quote)" A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world.  Your blog is whatever you want it to be. There are millions of them, in all shapes and sizes, and there are no real rules.  In simple terms, a blog is a web site, where you write stuff on an ongoing basis. New stuff shows up at the top, so your visitors can read what's new. Then they comment on it or link to it or email you. Or not.  Since Blogger was launched in 1999, blogs have reshaped the web, impacted politics, shaken up journalism, and enabled millions of people to have a voice and connect with others." (Unquote)

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I generally try to keep an open mind about my blog & keep an ear to the ground to detect any unfavorable rumblings coming from either within the blog or from without.  Whenever someone questions something about the blog I always take it to heart & pour a lot of thought into what has been said.  Have I missed something, have I crossed a line somewhere, have I offended someone, have I stepped on somebody's toes, have my opinions alienated some people??  Unfortunately, I can answer 'yes' to all those questions but it is those very things that make my blog distinctively mine.  Yes, mistakes have been made, but with those mistakes have come progress, understanding, communication, & amazingly enough, a few new friendships to boot.

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The recent concerns over an RV site called, RV There Yet led into comments about egos & who's blog is it anyway!!  Because a blogger wants exclusive rights to his/her blog & it's contents, does that suggest they have an ego problem.  No, I think not.   Is it an ego thing because bloggers put stat counters on their blogs to see how many people visit the site. No, I think not.  And is adding 'Blog Followers' a self centered thing too.  No, I think not.  Check out  RETIRED ROD'S blog, he just added the 'Follower's gadget today & he's been a daily blogger for a long time now.  Y'all might want to go over there & check out Rod's new & quickly growing 'Followers' list:))  I like JERRY'S comment that says, "We are amazed that we have 71 followers, and I do like to mention any new ones, simply to show them appreciation for joining us. As far as number of hits goes, I don't have a counter, but it would be interesting to know. Egotistical? No, but comments are to a blogger what applause is to a singer or an actor, laughter to a comic -- that's the big reward, the only reward of blogging -- a little response from someone who found it interesting, or even found a typo and thought it worthwhile to point it out."  And MOTTY'S comment this morning saying, "And Jerry/Suzy - I think you said it right. If we did not care about readers, we could write a journal on our hard drive on word, why even bother publishing it on the web. It is the interaction that creates the dynamics and excitement of blogging.  

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I often question things on my own blog & that all too often leads to doubting blogwobbles.  Being a person of change I am always thinking about changing this or changing that but I have found through comments & emails from readers that they are satisfied with my blog exactly the way it is.  I waiver & wobble sometimes as whether to keep it going but am always encouraged by readers comments & emails to keep at it. 

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I have a visible stat counter on the blog which incidentally tells me that as of right now we have had 123,540 hits on our site.  Is it my ego that displays that or is it just something that my little insecure self feels a tad proud of.  Should I hide those numbers.  No, I think not.  I, as well as other bloggers put a lot of time & effort into these blogs & the fact that people actually are interested in mine or others efforts is not something I feel should just be lightly swept under the carpet.  And I feel the same way about the 'Blog Follower' application.  Would we all like to see more followers & readers?  Of course we would.  Do we appreciate the blog comments from people?  Of course we do.  These blogs are put together by people who care about other people.  If they didn't care they could just write a simple diary of their daily events, keep it to themselves, & stuff it under their pillow at night.  No sharing.....no caring.  Lots more to be said on this topic but that's enough out of Mr. Blabberfingers again tonight....................................:))

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It was with sadness today that I read about a phone call coming in the early hours of Wednesday morning to a fellow RV couple informing them that their son had just died.  It is the second son they have lost.  A very sad time for Mike & his family at MIKE & PAT'S TRAVELS

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Welcome aboard to our latest blog follower Laura who host's her own forum, Nicest Seniors in Cyberspace.  Laura is also on ZOOMERS & you can find her here at home currently building a new website... LAURA'S PLACE IN CYBERSPACE  

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For more pics of these vintage cars go to our Picasa Web Album at.... VINTAGE CARS IN CLANGREGOR SQUARE....BAYFIELD, ONTARIO CANADA

Judy from TRAVEL'S WITH EMMA identified yesterday's blog bird as a Sandpiper.  I have another bird for today's blog that is at our feeders quite a bit but has no colorful tell tale markings.  Just seems to be a Plain Jane brown bird.  Ok Judy, can you help us with this little fellow? 

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TODAY'S LITTLE BROWN MYSTERY BIRD

Pepper Anne from LITTLE HOUSE ON WHEELS blogs today about the Dalton Gang's final demise in Coffeeville Kansas. 

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A note to Janie & John who left a comment on last night's blog.  The saying, "Tourists see the world, traveler's experience it," at the end of our blog is not an original saying of mine.  I plucked it off someone else's blog awhile back.  It was not signed with anyone's name so I felt free to use it.  My original line is at the very bottom of our blog & I have signed my name to it.  Thanks for the comment guys & all the best in your new full timing adventures & yep, I sure know what you mean by you saying, "some of our friends don't know why we would want to do that."

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GROANER'S CORNER:((  A man and a woman were having dinner in a fine restaurant.  Their waitress, taking another order at a table a few paces away noticed that the man was slowly sliding down his chair and under the table, with the woman acting unconcerned.  The waitress watched as the man slid all the way down his chair and out of sight under the table. Still, the woman dining across from him appeared calm and unruffled, apparently unaware that her dining companion had disappeared.  After the waitress finished taking the order, she came over to the table and said to the woman, 'Pardon me, ma'am, but I think your husband just slid under the table.'  The woman calmly looked up at her and replied firmly, 'No he didn't.  He just walked in the door.'

(There are some blog terms further down)

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

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And, as if this blog wasn't already long enough here are a few 'blog terms' that go along with today's subject...........................

Blogosphere – the collective online world of blogs and bloggers

Commenter – a person who leaves comments on a blog

Comment Spam – comments posted to a blog that are blatantly commercial in nature and/or made for the sole purpose of gaining a link

Spambots – automated programs that post comment spam to unprotected blogs

Trackback – a system that alerts another blogger (by means of a ping) when you link to them

Ping – to automatically send a small packet of data out to actuate something, usually a trackback

Blog Roll – a collection of links on a blog, pointing to other blogs – it usually contains the blogger’s recommendations of other blogs to read

Blogstipation – writer’s block for bloggers

Flame – a hostile attack, often of a personal nature, made using a blog

Sock Puppet – a fake persona used by a blogger to defend him or herself online and/or attack critics

Vlog – a video blog. Used as a verb, it’s vlogging. A vlogger is one who blogs by video